Member Article

Six figure Northstar investment boosts Newcastle-based children's activity business

Newcastle-based Weekend Box Club, which delivers boxes of craft, cookery and gardening materials to subscribers every fortnight, has received a six figure investment from Northstar Ventures.

Weekend Box was founded in 2013 by software developer Andy Stephenson, after he struggled to find ecologically sound, creative gifts for his four nieces and nephews.

“I was looking for something that was educational but engaging, something fun and definitely not something plastic and tacky,” he said. “But I couldn’t find anything, so I quit my job and started Weekend Box.”

Now, the nine-strong, on-line company delivers activity boxes, designed for children aged between three and six, to homes across the UK.

The investment from Northstar Ventures will be used to develop the company’s marketing strategy and online portal, extend the variety and scope of the boxes and reach a greater number of families.

“It will enable Weekend Box to build on its success to date and take the business to the next level,” said Rick Charnley, investment manager at Northstar Ventures.

“We were incredibly impressed with the business - which has been built up by Andy entirely from scratch - and particularly with its social angle, in helping to educate and involve young children through fun activities.”

“The investment will help us scale up over an 18-month to two year period,” said Andy, “and hopefully improve family time in even more households.”